Dover could move into the play-off places with a win against bottom-of-the-table Southport at Crabble on Good Friday.

Victory for boss Chris Kinnear’s men could also end the Sandgrounders eight-year stay in non-league’s top flight.

Defeat, or victory for any two out of Braintree Town, Woking and York City, will see Port relegated into the National League North.

Regardless of Southport’s lowly placing on the ladder, boss Kinnear is not taking anything for granted and is expecting a tough test.

He said: “They might go down on Friday, so could well play without fear.

“You can be sure that they will not make it easy for us. so we must be prepared for that.”

Only goal difference is currently keeping sixth-placed Dover below fifth-placed Aldershot.

SOUTHPORT’S RECENT FORM

Southport drew 2-2 at Sutton last Saturday after Roarie Deacon struck in the last minute to earn the hosts a point and keep Port hanging to their National League status by a thread.

Kieron Cadogan gave Sutton the lead, but Dan Spence’s own goal and a Neil Ashton free-kick gave the Seasiders hope of a great escape until Deacon’s last-gasp leveller.

Port  arrive at Crabble having lost 11 of their last 14 league matches.

LAST MEETING

03/09/16 Southport 0-1 Dover

Ricky Modeste’s early goal secured victory on a bitterly cold and wet afternoon on Merseyside.

The pacy winger (pictured above celebrating his winner) headed Orient loanee Sammy Moore’s precise cross over a stranded Ryan Crump after only three minutes.

The defeat also saw then Southport player-manager Andy Bishop lose his job.

PREVIOUS MEETINGS

01/03/16 Dover 1-2 Southport

16/01/16 Dover 2-1 Southport 1 (FA Trophy)

05/09/15 Southport 0-0 Dover

21/09/15 Dover 2-2 Southport

HITMEN

Whites’ top-scorer in the league this season is Ricky Miller with 35 after his late winner at Braintree Town last Saturday.

Moses Emmanuel and Ross Lafayette both have 11.

Southport’s leading marksman is Jamie Allen with 10.

DOVER TEAM NEWS

Assistant manager Jake Leberl confirmed on Wednesday that James Hurst (leg) is the only injury doubt and may face a late fitness test ahead of the match.

Dover midfielder Jim Stevenson is currently on loan at Southport but is ineligible to play against his parent club.

COVERAGE

The game starts at 3pm but if you are unable to make it, we will have live updates on Twitter – @DAFCLiveText – follow us and get all the news as it happens!

Coverage starts from 2pm.

MATCH SPONSOR

Friday’s match is being sponsored by CITI BUSINESS SYSTEMS.

Visit www.citibusinesssystems.com to see what they do.

We thank them for their support.

MATCH BALL AND COYW MATCHDAY PROGRAMME SPONSOR

Friday’s match ball and COYW magazine are both being sponsored by The White Cliffs Hotel & The Cliffe Pub & Kitchen.

Enjoy your stay at www.thewhitecliffs.com

We thank them for their support.

FRIDAY’S OTHER NATIONAL LEAGUE FIXTURES

Boreham Wood v Dagenham & Redbridge

Braintree Town v Guiseley

Bromley v Barrow

Forest Green Rovers v Chester

Lincoln City v Torquay United

North Ferriby United v Eastleigh

Solihull Moors v York City

Sutton United v Gateshead

Tranmere Rovers v Aldershot Town

Woking v Macclesfield

Wrexham v Maidstone United.

AWAY TRAVEL

There will be a Supporters Club coach making the trip to Aldershot on Monday and it’s not too late to reserve your seat on it.

It leaves Crabble at 11.15am and the cost is as follows:

Adults Members £20, Adult Non Members £35 and accompanied child (under 16) £10.

Please call or text Andy on 0793 4300335 to book your seat or see him in the Centre Spot on Friday.

Please note you are now required to pay for your seat in advance by cash or by cheque or via bank transfer.

Visit http://www.dasc.co.uk/ for all the details.

Dover will be aiming to address their recent poor record at the IronmongeryDirect Stadium when they head to relegation-haunted Braintree Town on Saturday.

Boss Chris Kinnear’s side are yet to register a point or a goal at the venue in their two games there since winning promotion back to non league’s top-flight.

But Kinnear is unconcerned by his side’s recent results at Braintree, who will start the game just two points above the drop zone.

He said: “Someone told me they have been a bit of a bogey side for Dover, but it is down to us really.

“It’s going to be difficult with their pitch and what they have got, but all we can do is take it as a game we want three points from.”

Dover are currently sixth in the table, two points behind Aldershot in fifth, but with a game in hand.

BRAINTREE’S RECENT FORM

Known as the Iron, Braintree were beaten by relegation rivals York City 3-0 on Saturday – their sixth defeat in seven league matches.

Jon Parkin, Asa Hall and Amari Morgan Smith scored the goals for the home side.

Braintree’s last victory was back in February, a 5-0 win at Bromley.

LAST MEETING

22/10/16 Dover Athletic 6-1 Braintree Town

Ricky Miller (pictured above in action against Braintree) scored four times as Athletic equalled their biggest winning margin since returning to the National League.

Sam Matthew’s sublime curled finish stunned the home fans early on, but Miller’s first half hat-trick, along with strikes from Aswad Thomas and Jack Parkinson, gave Dover a resounding 5-1 lead at the break.

Miller’s free-kick shortly after half time completed the rout.

PREVIOUS MEETINGS

13/10/15: Braintree Town 1-0 Dover Athletic

15/09/15: Dover Athletic 0-0 Braintree Town

11/11/14: Dover Athletic 1-0 Braintree Town

12/08/14: Braintree Town 3-0 Dover Athletic

HITMEN

Whites’ top scorer in the league this season is Ricky Miller with 34 following his double in the win against Gateshead at Crabble last Saturday.

Moses Emmanuel and Ross Lafayette both have 11.

Braintree’s leading man is Michael Cheek with 17.

DOVER TEAM NEWS

First team coach Mark Newson said on Wednesday that James Hurst (thigh), who missed the win against Gateshead, is the only injury doubt.

Newson gave Hurst a 50/50 chance of being available.

DOVER COLOURS

For Dover fans wanting to show their colours at Braintree by wearing the matching shirts as the players,  captain Jamie Grimes and his team-mates will be wearing their blue shirts.

COVERAGE:

The game starts at 3pm but if you are unable to make the trip, we will have live updates on Twitter – @DAFCLiveText – follow us and get all the news as it happens!

Coverage starts from 2pm.

SATURDAY’S OTHER NATIONAL LEAGUE FIXTURES

Aldershot Town v Torquay United

Barrow v Woking

Bromley v Wrexham

Chester v York City

Eastleigh v Lincoln City

Gateshead v Maidstone United

Guiseley v Forest Green Rovers

Macclesfield Town v Dagenham & Redbridge

North Ferriby United v Boreham Wood

Sutton United v Southport

Tranmere Rovers v Solihull Moors

AWAY TRAVEL

There will be a Supporters Club coach making the trip to Braintree on Saturday and it’s not too late to book your place on it.

It leaves Crabble at 11am and the cost is as follows:

Adults Members £15, Adult Non Members £30 and accompanied child (under 16) £5.

Please call or text Andy on 0793 4300335 to book your seat.

Please note that you are now required to pay for your seat in advance in cash or by cheque or via bank transfer.

Visit http://www.dasc.co.uk/ for all the details.